Authorities of a rubber plantation under the Bangladesh Forest Industries Development Corporation have been accused of demolishing the home of a Garo family during a land recovery drive in Madhupur, Tangail. The incident occurred Monday afternoon in the Kalapahar area of Dharati village in Madhupur upazila. Local residents allege that the family’s house was destroyed and trees surrounding their homestead were cut down during the operation.
The affected family, Ramen Kubi and Shivli Mangsang, said they had been living in the area for a long time and claimed that their homestead had been established on land purchased from the Forest Department. They alleged that the eviction took place without any prior written notice from the authorities.
According to local sources, the operation was led by Aman Ullah Aman, manager of the Chandpur Rubber Estate. Responding to the allegations, he said that regular drives are conducted to recover land under the Forest Department and that the operation was part of those ongoing efforts.
The incident heightened tensions in the locality and raised concerns about renewed conflict between the Garo community and forest authorities in the Madhupur forest region.
Following the incident, Madhupur Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mirza Zubair Hossain visited the site and held discussions with the plantation authorities. He described the action taken during the operation as excessive. According to the UNO, the estate authorities later apologized to the affected family and agreed to provide two bundles of corrugated iron sheets, Tk 6,000 in financial assistance, and other support to help rebuild their home.
The UNO also stated that excessive force had been used by Ansar members involved in the operation. He said the relevant authorities have been instructed not to conduct such eviction drives in the future without informing the UNO and the local police administration beforehand.
Source: The Daily Star Bangla
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